SIT searches for accused couple in Noida, Nainital
Separate probe panel led by Haridwar chief development officer of likely to submit its report tomorrow
DEHRADUN: A special investigation team (SIT) of Uttarakhand police has launched a manhunt for Max Corporate Services owners, who are key accused in the alleged Mahakumbh fake Covid testing scam, in Noida, Uttar Pradesh and Nainital, Uttarakhand.
The accused husband-wife Sharad and Mallika Pant – are on the run, a top police officer said on Wednesday.
A police officer privy to the developments, on condition of anonymity, said, “Last week, the SIT had found the last location of their mobile phones in Noida after which a team was sent there along with another to Nainital to nab them in case they move the high court to prevent arrest by challenging the previous order. However, the SIT has since then failed to find their whereabouts as their mobile phones are now switched off.”
“The teams are, however, in search of them in both the places. Apart from this, another team would soon be leaving for Rajasthan to nab one more suspect for questioning whose role has been found in the scam during investigation,” said the officer.
When contacted, Haridwar senior superintendent of police Senthil Avoodai K Raj, who had formed the SIT, refused to reveal much detail.
“The accused couple are still on the run and efforts are on to arrest them. Also, the high court in Nainital has sought the progress report in the case which we will soon submit,” said K Raj.
Meanwhile, Haridwar chief development officer (CDO) Sourabh Gaharwar, who is carrying out a separate probe in the alleged scam, is likely to submit his report to the Haridwar district magistrate on Friday.
The CDO has been leading a three-member inquiry committee set up by then district magistrate C Ravishankar to probe the alleged scam.
“The probe report is likely be submitted to the district magistrate after verification of mobile phone numbers fed by the testing laboratories is completed. We have verified almost 1 lakh phone numbers but yesterday (Tuesday) some gaps were identified in the verification which will be rectified today,” said Gaharwar.
He added “Once it is done, the finishing touches will be given to the report which would be submitted on Friday.”
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand high court will hear fresh writ petitions of Sharat and Mallika Pant on August 20.
The couple has filed separate criminal writ petitions in the HC, challenging addition of IPC 467 (forgery of valuable security, will) in the FIR against them and stay on their arrest.
A single bench of Justice RC Khulbe, while hearing both the petitions on Tuesday, directed the state government to provide details about the matter to it and listed both the petitions for hearing on August 20.
HT has copies of both the orders.
On June 17, Haridwar police had booked owners of Max Corporate Services in connection with fake COVID testing scam under IPC sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection), 270 (malignantly does any act likely to spread the infection), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.), 471 (forgery for the purpose of cheating,), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and section 53 of Disaster Management Act and Section 3 of Epidemic Act.
Later, in the same month, the accused couple filed separate criminal writ petitions in HC, demanding quashing of FIR against them and stay on their arrest.
Later, when police added IPC section 467 in the case, the police filed recall applications in the HC for June 23 order (in case of Mallika Pant) and June 29 order (in case of Sharat Pant). In both June 23 and June 29 orders, the HC had ruled that in view of the judgment rendered by SC in Arnesh Kumar case (2014), “the petitioner should be arrested only when the Investigating Officer has reason to believe on the basis of information and material collected, that he has committed an offence. Before making arrest, the Investigating Officer is required to satisfy himself that the arrest is necessary for one or more purposes…”
On August 4, HC rejected the recall applications of the state government regarding court’s June 23 and June 29 orders. With this, the SIT probing the matter is now free to arrest both the accused, said JS Virk, deputy advocate general, who represented the state government in the matter on August 4.
MAX CORPORATE SERVICE HAD GIVEN CONTRACT TO PRIVATE LABORATORIES TO CARRY OUT COVID TESTS DURING THE HARIDWAR KUMBH